Canada's 'racist' government should expect Iran's response

An Iranian hardline student holds a sign opposed to the BBC during a demonstration in August outside the British Embassy in Tehran to protest against what students called the 'savage' crackdown by British police on rioters in London.

Canada's Foreign Minister John Baird called Iran the "most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today."

He cited the country's "appalling" human rights, support of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, “military dimensions” of its nuclear program and “anti-Semitic racist rhetoric” as reasons for the sudden decision.

Baird also suggested Iran does little to protect foreign diplomats.

He closed Canada's embassy in Iran and gave Iranian diplomats five days to leave Canada.

In immediate reaction, The Canadian Press reported that an Iranian parliamentarian will not attend a multi-national meeting in Canada late next month.